Knicks Capitalize as Celtics Fire Away, and Fizzle Out

Jalen Brunson and the Knicks clawed all the way back to shock the Boston Celtics 108–105 in overtime on Monday night, stealing Game 1 of their second-round playoff series and planting some serious seeds of doubt in the minds of the defending champs.

Boston, up 76–56 with momentum on its side, seemed in full control. Then the Celtics started launching — and kept launching. Of their 20 field goal attempts in the third quarter, 19 were 3-pointers. They’d go on to hoist a playoff-record 60 threes, converting just 17.

And that was the story. The Celtics abandoned the paint, abandoned the mid-range, and in doing so, abandoned the game. New York didn’t just survive the barrage, it slowly turned the tide.

The Knicks were in foul trouble — Brunson, Josh Hart and Karl-Anthony Towns all carried whistles. But Boston’s refusal to attack the basket bailed them out. No easy trips to the line, no way to make the Knicks pay for being thin defensively. Instead, Boston let New York hang around, and eventually pay them back.

Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined to go just 5-of-25 from three. Boston’s offense stalled, and by overtime, the Knicks had all the momentum. Brunson scored 10 in the extra period, and Towns, much maligned since arriving in New York, came through with two massive buckets late.

Game 2 is Wednesday in Boston (7 p.m. ET, TNT).

Now the questions mount: Will Kristaps Porzingis — who played just 13 minutes before leaving with an illness — be ready to go? Can Boston rediscover offensive balance? Or did the Knicks just discover a path forward after going winless against the Celtics all regular season?

One thing’s for sure: The champs gave one away, and the Knicks are no longer just happy to be here.